Then for a moment, the mood goes dark. “Every athlete I talk to, every actor, every famous person, they tell me that their state is the state [where] people hate them the most,” Paz says. At this point, Film & TV Office director Steven Feinberg, MC of the event, hops up from his chair, places his hands on Paz’s shoulders, and says “We don’t hate you. . . When you’re a family member, you just criticize your family member. . . Rhode Island is one big family.”

This elicits a small round of applause, before Paz shakes Feinberg off to tell an anecdote about how the screenwriter for Rudy and Hoosiers, who wrote an earlier version of the Bleed For This script that was ultimately scrapped, is an “asshole.” At this point, some of producers sitting behind Paz are shifting in their seats and starting to look nervous. “They’re so uptight,” Paz says, glancing behind him.

“I like these people,” he says, gesturing to the throng of reporters and other guests. “You gotta entertain them a little bit.”

With that, he promises the film will “make Rhode Island proud and happy,” thanks the crowd, and takes a seat.

Feinberg then steps back up to the microphone. “As you probably guessed,” he says, “the film won’t be rated G.”

Bleed For This is being produced by Rhode Island’s own Woodhaven Production Company, which plans to wrap filming by May 2014. The film is scheduled for release in 2016.